Missionary Support

The Anglican and Methodist Church of St Andrew

St. Andrew’s Church has always been an outward looking church, both to its community and to the wider world. It has a strong tradition of supporting missionary work throughout the UK and the world. As a church we are committed to supporting missionary societies, in prayer and financially with 10% of our income going to support our mission partners.

We currently support:

CHURCH ARMY

Our Church Army links with Tim Hyde who is based at the Lighthouse Project on the Weston Estate, Southampton. Their aim is to make a difference on the Estate by bringing God’s light and love into the community through practical help and care. The team are reaching out to the people on this very large council estate through a number of practical projects such as Wasteaway (removing and disposing of local rubbish and garden waste); Swapshop, providing basic furniture for needy residents and the Lighthouse Lunchclub.

SCRIPTURE UNION HUNGARY

Scripture Union is an international mission movement that was founded over 140 years ago. They work in over 120 countries making God’s good news known to children, young people and families and encouraging people of all ages to meet God daily through the Bible and prayer. Their goal is: that all may come to a personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, grow in Christian maturity and become both committed church members and servants of a world in need.

Erzsebet Komlosi is our Mission Partner for Scripture Union Hungary. Erzsebet and her small team work from their office in Budapest, running summer camps for young people, writing and translating Bible study material for churches and Christians across Hungary.

CHURCH MISSION SOCIETY

Andrew Parfitt and his wife are our CMS links working in the UK. Andrew previously worked in Central Asia in relief and development, while his wife has experience of living and working cross-culturally amongst people of other faiths. They recently moved to the south side of Glasgow closer to their work amongst asylum seekers and refugees, many with limited language skills. They give practical help (eg form-filling), working alongside local outreach and providing English teaching. Andrew teaches ESOL part-time and his wife works as an interpreter.

BEREKO

Our church has a formal parish link with the church in Bereko. Bereko is a village in the north of Tanzania, in the Diocese of Kondoa. Our relationship sits under the umbrella of the link between Kondoa and Rochester Dioceses.

Since 2006, St Andrew’s Paddock Wood has been building a close relationship with our church family in Bereko and we have visited on a number of occasions, We have also supported some practical projects such as building a church (also St Andrew’s) and a pastor’s house and visited a number of times to develop a close friendship.

We have now been joined by Paddock Wood Primary School, Mascalls Academy and Paddock Wood Town Council in creating and developing partnership and understanding between our communities. Our primary school has even had teachers over from Bereko to come and see how it is done here in the UK. Within Paddock Wood, we have now established the Bereko Community Partnership which oversees this broader relationship. More information is available here: www.bereko.co.uk.